Hydraulic shock absorber



June 11, 1935. M. FIELDMAN 2,004,911

HYDRAULIC SHOCK ABSORBR Filed June 25, 1954 30 icallyv manufactured and readily assembled and inner frame member I0.

Patented' June 11, 193s 2,004,911*

HYDRAULIC SHOCK ABSORBER Michael Fieldmam'ChicagoJll., assignor to HoudeYA Engineering Corporation, Buffalo, N. Y., a corf poration OfNeWYork j l --ApplicationJune 25,y 1934,Serial 'No.j732,2317 y y 10 Claims. (Cl. 1 88-89) My invention relates to hydraulic shock ab-` I3 respectively of the members are held in spaced sorbers adapted particularly"'for application to' relation by the bearing element' I4. This bearing automotive vehicles to modify and checkv the elementextends into thej openings I5 and' I6 in operation of the vehicle spring. the walls I2 and I3 respectively and has the '5 vAn limportant object of the inventionisi4 to flanges" I`I and I8 against which'the respective f5 produce a shock absorber device which will imwalls seat, f Apose comparatively little resistance to the major 'The vbearing p element I4 `journals the piston portion of the spring compressionstroke; that is shaft I9 at its outer end, the shaft' extending when the axle approaches the vehicle'frame from through and beyond the opening I6 in thejw'all l0 its static or normal position, lbut' will offer ini- I3 of the member II4-` The shaft/extends axially 10 creased or stiferresistance during a short nal through the cup frame YIll-and' atits inner'end compression movement 'just before bottoming is iournallcd in the opening 2U in the disc l2| takes place, and which will offer a comparatively which forms a closure for the outer end ofthe stiff resistance against rebound movement of the cup frame I0 to dene with'this cup frame a spring, which resistance tapers off upon the apspace for containing'hydraulic fluid. l. 15

proach back to static or normal position; and The edgeof the outerframe member II enwith the operation of the device such as to allow gages against a `base plate '22 vhaving apertured for a fairly freey Wheel fall or spring expansion' ears23r for application to a supportas for exfrom static or normal position but imposing a ample the chassis of an automotive vehicle. The

comparatively stiff resistance against theffollowframe II and the base plate yare secured together 2'0' up or fall movement ofthe body, back tonormal preferably -bylwelding in the manner disclosed in position relative to the axle. n f v my copending applicationl Serial No. 653,912 filed- `A further object is to provide improved valving` January 27, 1933;r the insulation disc 24 -being structure operated by fluid pressure under control inteIpOSed between h base plate and the Wall of the movement and instantaneous position of 2I for localization vof the electric weldingcurrent 25 the piston for accomplishment of the operations at the edge of the frame'mernber II for Weldingy above referred to. l thereof to the base plate. After the welding op`` Another object is to produce a shock absorber' erationthe wall or disc 2 If will be'intimately and involving simple parts which may be econornsecurely clamped and held against the edge of the which will function to produce thedesirablefop- The piston structure'comprisesthe cylindrical' eration referredto. enlargement or piston hub I9 at the inner end The various features of the invention are inof the shaft I9 and the piston `vanel 21`having' corporated in the structure disclosed on the the recess 26 'receiving the wing 25 extending drawing, in which drawing: from the hub; the outer surface of` the piston g5 Figure 1 is a front elevation of the shock abvane beingA cylindrical to t and bear .against the sorber structure showing its application to a inner cylindrical-surface 0f 'the eupfframel', vehicle; v n l a spring 28 exerting outward radial pressure Figure 2 is a section on plane II-II of Figures against the piston vane to hold it in' such bearingy 40' l and 3; g v engagement. The shaft 'I9 atits outer end' is 40 Figure 3 is a section on planeIII-IIIof Fgengaged by a lever 29 Which iSv COIlIleCted 'b5' a ure 2; y suitable link structure 30,4usually with the axleX Figure 4 is a section on plane IV'-IV of 4Fig-4 of the vehicle, as shown in Figure 1; AUpon relai-` ure 3; tive movement betweentthe` lvehicle body and Figure 5 is a section onl plane V-V of Figaxle the shaft I9 and.v piston {hub'IS will be 45 ure 3;- l oscillated and the piston vane 2l will be, swung Figure 6 is a section on plane VI--VI of rFigback and forth within the vstructure I0. ure 3; and In the bottom of the framey 'I0 is seated 'the Figure 7 is a view similar to Figure- 3 showing. abutment or partition element 3l' whichextends the piston structure in another operativeposition. between thecylinder wall of the frame and the 5b Referringy to the shock absorber structure piston hub I9 the recess 32 inthe .upper side'of shown,` it comprises inner and outer cylindrical the member 3l intimately receiving. the 'piston cup shaped members or frames I 0 and II,'the hub to form au bearing therefor. In its outer inner member having a press fit in the outer end side the member 3| has the' notch 33 receiving 551,l ofthe vouter member. The :bottomwalls I2 andr theaabutmentiplatc 34 secured to the cylinder: 551

wall of the frame I0, preferably by welding, this abutment plate holding the member 3| against lateralmovement and the walls I2 and 2| engaged by the front and rear side of the'membei` 3| holding it against axial displacement.

The stationary partition member 3|, together with the piston; structure divide the space Within the frame Illk into hydraulic working chambers A and B. As the shaft and piston structure are oscillated the fluid is displaced in the working chambers and improved valving arrangement is provided for controlling the flow from one chamber to the other. The partition mem-k ber 3| has the longitudinally extending cylin` drical valve chamber in which the spool shaped valve 36 fits and is reciprocable, the movement of the valve in one direction being resisted by a spring 3'I andthe movement inthe opposite;

direction being resisted by the spring 38. The

springs are of equal tension so that" normally the annular port39 of the valve is in registration with the cross-passage40 inthe partition mem-` dinal passage 42 at the opposite side of the valve connects the cross-passage with the chamber B.v

The cross-passage 40 is` closed at the front and the rear by the walls I2 and 2| respectively and when `the valve is in its normal or neutral position the chambers A and B are in communication `for the interow of fluid throughthe path includingA the cross-passage, the longitudinal passages and the valve port 3S).l Thesepassages are of restricted diameter `for the desired resistance to flow through such path. n n l Extending upwardlyfrom the valve chamber 35 at opposite sides of theV valve 36 are ports 43 and 43which terminate at the recess 32 in the member 3|. On its side directly opposite they piston vane 21 the piston hub I9, has a port 44 milled therein and extendingin chordal'direction, while at the oppositesidesof the piston hub and displaced from the port 44 are the side ports 45 and 45' milled in the hub and also extending in chordal direction.v In the normal or static position of the shock absorber parts, as shown inl Figure 3, the pistonvane 2`| is` at the upper part of the housing I0 midway between the working chambers A and B, and the bottom port 44 is within the recess 32 and spans the ports 43 and 43" so that thepressure in the:

and 43 are open. Upon. further oscillation yof, the shaft the advancing end of either the port 45.-

0r 45 will pass beyond the respective port 43 and 43 for the flow of fluid under pressure into the corresponding end of the Valve chamber -for shift .of the valve to disconnectits port 39`from the cross-port 40 and to close this cross-passage to check the further flow of! fluid through the path which includes the passages 40,'4I and 42. Fig-` ure 7 shows the shaft and piston structure moved in counter-'clockwise.direction to bring thepor't 45 in communication with the .port'143so that fluid under pressure then flows from the chamber A through the ports 45 and 43 andinto the kValve chamber at the leftof the valve, thevalve being then `shifted toward the right against thel resistance of thespring 39 for interpositlon of* the valve body in the cross port 40 to cause closure of the path 40, 4I, 42 so that pressure will be built up in the chamber A to check further movement of the piston structure. .If the piston structure is moved from normal position in the opposite directionr (clockwise) then-the side port 45 Will register with the port 43 and the valve will be shifted toward the left for closure of the fluid flow path and building upy of pressure in the chamber B for checkingfurther movement 4of the piston structure.

A The space 46 between the walls I2 and I3 of the housingmembers I0 andV II provides a fluid reserve reservoir 46 whichcan be illledthrough an opening 4'I- closed by a plug 48. I provide valve structureforcontrolling the flow of replenishing fluid'to the working chambers'A and B,

and also valve means for relieving the ends of y the valve` chamber. Preferably a single valve chamber is provided for two valving means. As best shown in Figures 5 and 6 the partition member 3| has the valve chambers 49 vand 49' therein below the left and right ends respectively of the valve chamber 35. The valve chamber 49 is connected by a laterally extending port 50 with the working chamber A, whilethe port or passage 50" extends from the valve chamber49 to the working chamber B. The inner end of each valve-chamber is conical to form a seat for acheck valve inthe form of a ball 5I; the'valve chamber 49 at its inner end being connected by the lateral passage 52 which communicates with the vertical passage 53 extending up to the left end of the valve chamber 35. Similarly the valve chamber 50' at its inner end connects-with the lateral passage 52 which communicates with the vertical passage 53 leading to thegright end of the valvechamber 35. Fluid may therefore flow from the'left end of the valve chamber 35 thru the passages 53 and 52and past the check Valve 5| into valve chamber 49 and from there through the lateral passage 5|IIv to the workingv chamber A. Similarly fluid may' flow from'the right end of the valve chamber'35 past theballcheck 52 to valve chamber 49 and from there 'through passage 50 to the working chamber B. The flow from the working chamber to the valve chamber 35 wil1--be prevented by the seating of the bau .'nf.` f f In the outer end of each of the valve chambers 49 and 49 a seat plug 54 `is inserted for seating a ball check valve 55. Each of the valve chambers 49 and 49'v is in registration at its outer end with a passage 56 through the wall` I 2 of the housing member II), these passages 56 communicating with'the reserve reservoir 46,. Fluid may flow from the reservoir through the' passages 56U .past the check valves into the respective valve chambers 49 and 49 and from there through the passages 50 or 59 to theworking chambers Aor B,` fluid being drawn into `the working chambers in the wake of the. piston, flow in the opposite directionv being prevented by the check balls 55. c c y Any fluid which may be forced out `fromthe working chamber between the outer end, ofV the shaft I9 and the bearing member I4 is intercepted byacircumferential channel 5'| in the shaft whichlcommunicateswith passages 58 con-I nectingfwith the reservoir 46. A `sheet metal cap 59 is press fitted over the outer end of the'frame member II" and serves to compress .packing material 60 between the shaft and the outer end of the bearing `member .I4 so as to prevent leakage clockwise and the fluidffromchamb-e'r A,` driven. through the `port 44 rand port 43 to thefleft end: of

tothe exterior of the, shockv abso-rber of any iiuid which may ow past the' channel 51.

Briefly summarizing the operation, the static or .normal position ofthe shock absorberparts is as shown in Figure 3, the. valve 36 being in-its central or neutral position for opening Aof the pathsy 40, 4I and 42. As the vehicle travels overr the ordinary imperfections in airoadway, .the piston `structure oscillation amplitude will be comparatively short and thev ports 43 and 43 will remaindisconnected from the workingchambers so that the iiuid may kilow backl and forth between working chambers through,` the open passage controlled by the valve 36 against the, friction to flow through the `passageways and the abrupt turning of the flow on its way through thefpassages 4|, 40 and 42. Should an extraordinary bump in the roadway cause` the ,axlevto be raised for swing of the piston structure far enough to uncover both theports 43 and 43 then the valve 36 willV be shifted to close the passage through the partition 3|. Figure 7 illustrates such movement of the axle, the piston structure being swung'correspondingly counter-clockwise for communication rof the side port 45 with the port 43. Theportsin the'piston hub are of` varying depth so that theconnection of theport 45 withthe port v43 will be gradual for gradual building up ci pressure inthe left end of the valve chamber 35 and gradual shift of the valve toward the rightfor gradual closure of the. pasA During-flow of uid under pressure into the left (clockwise) and fluid will be forced from the working `chamber B through the port 43 into the right end of kthe valve chamber 35 to cause the valve toj be rapidly shifted to the left forv closure -of the passage through the partition 3| and checking of the rebound stroke. v'Ihe pres-v sure subjectedl fluid in the working chamber B must then force its way tothe Workingl chamber A by Way of the calculated working, clearances.:

or tolerances between the frame and moving parts of the. shock absorber until the port 44 in .the

pistonhub again comes into the recess 32-for spanning of the port 43, 43 and relief of pres-k sure from the valve chamber 35 for return of the valve to its neutral position for opening of the passagethrough the partition 3| so that the final rebound movementis taken up by the resistance of such passage.

Should kthe vehicle wheel encounter a depression and the axle suddenly move downwardly, the piston structure will ber swung in `clockwise `direction first against the resistance through the path V4|), 4|, 42 in the partition member, and, if the amplitude is great enough for opening of the port 43 to the side port 45' in the piston hub, and consequent closure of the valve 36, the pressure built up in the chamber B will check further movement of the axle and resist the shock thereof. As the spring tends to follow up the movement of the axle, the piston structure will be swung in the opposite direction (counterthe valve chamber 35, will cause shift of the valve toclose the passage through the partition 3|, and the ypressure `builtup inthe chamber A` will checksuch rebound untilthe port 44 again spans the port` 43, 43- for neutralization of pres'- surein-thelvalve chamber 35 andreopening ofl responding Working chamber. n During oscilla;

tion 'of the piston structure fluid will iiow from the replenishing chamber 46 through the passag'es '56 into the working chambers in the `wake of the travellingpiston' structure.

I have `shown a practical andy eflicient embodi- 'ment of the 'various features of nii/'invention but AIdo not desire to be Vlimited tothe Aexact` construction, arrangement and operation shown and'describecl as changes and modicationsmay be made without departing from the scope and spirit ofthe invention,l

` Ifclaim as follows:v i

1. A hydraulic shock absorber comprising a housing ,forl hydraulic fluid, a partition member in said housing', a piston structure oscillatable in said housing, said piston structure andpartitionA member i dividing said housing into working chambers, said partition member having a pas-y sage therethrough for flow of fluid between said working chambers, a valve'chamberincluded in said passage, avalve movable in said valve chamber normally' positioned to open said passage, p 'ortsy leading fromsaid `valve chamber at opposite sides of said valve, and meansadapting said piston structure to loperate as a valve for con?A nesting' said valve chamber ports with the working chambers for flow of fluid under pressure lto said valve chamber for shifting saidv valve for closure ofv said passageway after a predetermined distance of movement of said piston structure..

2. A hydraulic shock' absorber comprising a housing for hydraulic fluid, apartition element l35, oil locks in in said housing, a piston structure oscillatable iny said housing, said piston structure dividing said housing into two working chambers, said partition' element having a passageway therethrough ffor the flow of fluid between said working chambers, av valve chamber in said passageway, a valve shiftable-in said valve chambenyielding means tending tohold said valvein neutral positionfor opening of said passageway, ports .leading from said valve chamber at opposite sides of said valve, saidpiston structure having ports'arranged to span said Valve chamber ports for equalization of `pressure `in said valve chamber when said piston` structure isinneutral position and to conneet said valve chamber ports with said working chambers for flowv of fluid under pressure intor said valveichamber at one side of said valve when said piston .structure is moved av predetermined distance, whereby .said `valve will be shifted for closure of said passageway against iiuid flow and resultant checking of further movement of said piston structure.

3. In a hydraulic shock absorber, a housing providing a hydraulic workingchamber, a piston structurek for displacing Iiuid in said chamber,

means providing a-discharge passageway for said Working chamber, a valve controllingk saldpgssageway, a valve chamber for said valvafmeans 4 ammi forming a chamberfoxrreplenishing fluidA foriia'iclA said passage, ports leading from said valve charnber at opposite'l sides of saidvalve, said piston structure having side ports yand an intermediate port, said intermediate port arranged to span said i valve chamber ports when said piston structure isin a normal` positiornand said side portsffunctioning upon movement-of` said piston structure in either direction from normal position to expose one of said valve chamber ports to said hydraulic 1o Chamber 0r Sail first 'mentionedzvalve clifnberworking chamber in advance of the moving pis- 10V 4. 'hydltllllfbv ShQCk 58135011321'` Compri-SIDE a ton structure andthe other valvevchamberport housing forl hydraulic. fluid, a plston Structure to the working chamber in the wake of the pistonoscillatable in said hoiising to displaceV therfluid Structure whereby Said valve Wm be shifted to therein-means proYldmg a' passage` for the now close said passage against further yfluid flow 15 of fluid from one side of the piston structure to tlfleret-,hroughv y the other, a valve chambermcludedin said pas- ,3. A hydraulig shock absorber comprising a Sage a' Valve movable m- Sa'ld Wflve chamber and housing providing a hydraulic working chamber, normally positioned to open said passage,ports a pistonistructure movable m said, chamberto leading from said valve chamber at opposite sides displace the fluid therein means providing a pas 2,0 of sald valve, and means adapting said piston structure to operate` as a valve for connecting said ports for iiow of displaced fluid under pres- ,mmrmdwar n. r

ton structureto the other, a valve'chamber ini ehu at: .i minimi tsl :mit :si: sisidi dipost'r abstimmt-arm' entre i sage'ior the flow of uid-from one side of the pis- 20v `i iseiiniilalewrzlmbnt'fiii mais iit'rii lsiiiidinwrliriiiig minar-i -i E: :i i 

